Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stern warning to the current leadership of the Volta River Authority (VRA) to ensure that any future Akosombo Dam spillage does not cause flooding as witnessed in 2023.
According to President Mahama, if the catastrophic Akosombo Dam spillage recurs, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Volta River Authority and deputies will be dismissed or forced to resign.
Addressing the nation on Wednesday, May 7, to mark his first 120 days in office, President Mahama emphasised that lessons had been learnt and firm steps were being taken to prevent another disaster.
Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor recently inaugurated a technical committee, headed by former VRA Chief Executive Ing. Kirk Koffi, to investigate the causes of the previous flooding and propose sustainable solutions.
President Mahama said the committee, under Ing. Koffi’s leadership, had proposed key measures, including a controlled spill flood plan and new engineering interventions downstream to better manage flood risks.
He stressed that implementing these recommendations would be immediate and mandatory.
“I’ve instructed that these strategies be executed without delay,” he stressed.
Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, President Mahama made it clear that the current VRA leadership would be held fully accountable for any failure to act effectively.
“I’ve made it clear that if these measures are not carried out properly and we face another damaging flood due to VRA negligence, the CEO and top deputies will be required to resign or will be removed from office,” he warned.
The Akosombo Dam spillage in 2023 had disastrous effects, displacing thousands and drawing harsh public criticisms over the VRA’s lack of preparedness.
With this firm stance, President Mahama has signalled a new era of accountability and proactive disaster management in the face of growing climate challenges.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
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